The researchers say their powerful biosensor is useful for toxins and pathogen testing as well as diagnosing other medical issues. The device consists of a cradle that contains an assortment of lenses and filters that line up with the camera.

Although the cradle only costs US$200, the researchers say the device will come equipped with a photonic crystal slide that’s as accurate as US$50,000 laboratory spectrometers used to decipher the molecules in a given sample.

Ultimately, the research team hopes that a device like this will allow doctors to take medical testing outside of the lab and bring it to an inexpensive but accurate handheld device.